Friday, April 18, 2008

Sad Friday Random Ten

Woke today to discover that Danny Federici, who played keyboards, accordian, glockenspiel and other instruments for Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band had passed away.

My brother and I saw Springsteen and band in September, 1981. We had seventh row, center tickets. It was godhead. Federici's organ and accordian were key to the sound of Springsteen's music. He'll be missed.

And of course, a Springsteen song showed up on my Random Ten today.

1. December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
2. You Can't Kill Me- The Washington Squares
3. Look What They've Done To My Song- Melanie
4. Quiet Man- John Prine
5. In The Ghetto- Elvis Presley
6. The E-Street Shuffle- Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band
7. Tell Mama- Etta James
8. Take The Highway- Marshall Tucker Band
9. Taxi- Harry Chapin
10. Little Miss Can't Be Wrong- The Spin Doctors


Notes:
1. My stepdaughter brought the house down at the Minnesota State Fair with her karoake version of this song.
2. The Washington Squares were a bunch of punk rockers who formed a political folk band. This was actually the first cd I ever bought.
3. I love when Melanie breaks into the French part of the song.
4. John Prine has long been one of my favorites. I saw him on my 18th birthday, and was lucky enough to see him perform another time with his best friend, Steve Goodman.
5. This was one of a handful of songs Mac Davis wrote for Elvis.
6. This song shows Springsteen with a little funk.
7. My favorite Etta James song is "At Last."
8. Guilty pleasure.
9. Wish I'd have seen Harry Chapin in concert when he was still alive.
10. Love this song and "Pocket Full of Kryptonite."

2 comments:

Clay Eals said...

Good to see your post and your passing reference to Steve Goodman. He often doesn't get his due. You might be interested in my 800-page biography, "Steve Goodman: Facing the Music." John Prine, whom you also mention, was a key interviewee among my 1,050 sources.

You can find out more at my Internet site (below). Amazingly, the book's first printing sold out in just eight months, all 5,000 copies, and a second printing of 5,000 is available now. The second printing includes hundreds of little updates and additions, including 30 more photos for a total of 575. To order a second-printing copy, see the "online store" page of my site. Just trying to spread word about the book. Feel free to do the same!

Clay Eals
1728 California Ave. S.W. #301
Seattle, WA 98116-1958

(206) 935-7515
(206) 484-8008
ceals@comcast.net
http://www.clayeals.com

SkylersDad said...

#1 on your list was the last song I heard (from a car radio) as I was escorted into basic training for the Navy. I was somewhat drowned out by a DI calling me a maggot...